Package



United States Patent 3,388,788 PAUKAGE Robert P. Hcllem, Medinah, lll., assignor to National Dairy Products Corporation, New York, Nfilfl, a corporation of Delaware Filed Sept. 17, 1965, Ser. No. 488,669 Claims. (Cl. 206-45.33)

ABSTRAT OF THE DISCLUSURE A package has a base member which receives items to be packaged and has apertures therein exposing surface portions of the items. An overwrap is secured about the base and the items to form an enclosure, and has apertures therein communicating with those in the base to provide accessibility to the exposed surface portions of the items.

The present invention relates generally to packages and more particularly is directed to an improved package which provides substantially increased convenience in use.

Many consumer goods particularly in the field of prepared foods are supplied in convenient-sized containers, such as cans which are usually packed in groups in suitable shipping containers or cartons and transported to retail outlets, the sizes of the groups being on the order of 6, 12, etc. Such shipping containers, or packages, generally are relatively rigid in construction so as to provide some protection for their contents during shipping and to facilitate handling of the packages as well as to permit convenient storage of the packages after they have reached their destination. It is quite desirable to furnish such a package which permits one to view the contents thereof without opening the package itself. This is particularly convenient when it is desired to store the packages on shelves in a position where they may be readily seen by prospective purchasers. Such an exhibition of relatively large quantities of merchandise on hand provides substantial psychological advantages in persuading purchasers to buy the merchandise. In addition, such a provision considerably facilitates handling and storage of the goods since it permits one to make a convenient tabulation of the current inventory of the goods on hand. Moreover, particularly with regard to relatively small items the use of such a means for exhibiting the goods may tend to reduce pilferage losses since it would be quite diflicult to conveniently conceal an entire package.

In those instances where the package is to be used for consumer goods, it is desirable not only that the goods be adaptable for storage and exhibit in their original shipping package but also that means be provided for pricing each individual can or item of merchandise disposed in the package without breaking open or in any way disturbing the structural rigidity of the container. Usually, when it was desired to price-mark goods, it was necessary to break open the package and then either place the goods on display as in storage facilities, discarding the shipping package, or to replace the goods in their shipping package and devise a means for reclosing the package.

However, if the goods may be price-marked without disturbing the continuity of the package numerous unique advantages result. For example, it permits price-marking the goods immediately upon receipt and prior to storage or display on shelves, counters, or the like. As available stocks are exhausted, it is then merely necessary to open the package in which the pre-priced goods have been stored and add to existing stocks from the container without requiring additional handling.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved package adaptable for transporting and storing various items and a method of manufacture thereof.

Fatentecl dune 38, 1968 ice It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved relatively rigid package which facilitates handling of merchandise.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved, relatively rigid, light-weight shipping and storage package which facilitates display and handling of the goods contained therein.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an improved shipping and storage package which is durable and convenient in use and attractive in appearance.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved shipping and storage package which permits marking or pricing the goods contained therein without disturbing the continuity of the package so as to faclitate handling of the goods.

Additional objects and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description and accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a shipping container chosen to illustrate the principles of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the underside of the container illustrated in FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 3 is a view taken along the line 3-3 in FIG- URE 1.

Referring to the drawings, a package in accordance with the present invention generally comprises a base member It adapted for receiving items 12 which are to be shipped. The base It is provided with a plurality of apertures 14 aligned with the items I. An overwrap 1% is disposed in surrounding relationship about the exterior of the base 16 and the items 12 carried therein so as to define an enclosure. A plurality of apertures 18 which are generally aligned or in communication with the apertures 14- are provided in the section of the overwrap 16, which encloses the base it thereby permitting accessibility and convenient price-marking of tne items 12 through the aligned apertures 1 and 18 without disturbing the structure of the completed package.

More particularly, referring to FIGURES 1 and 2, the package is illustrated for the sake of convenience as being generally rectangular in cross-section and containing a dozen generally cylindrical cans which substantially occupy its interior. It should be noted that the shipping container may be constructed in a desired size and shape and adapted for receiving various items of various sizes and shapes.

The base member at! preferably is the bottom of a tray 20 and is generally flat with apertures 14 arranged to communicate with preselected portions of the items or cans 12 on which it is desired to place a marking such as a price stamp. The tray 2t. 'urther includes a rim 24 which projects upwardly from the periphery of the bottom member it! and serves to define the outer boundary of the tray. In this connection. the items 12 are preferably arranged within the tray in close-fitting relationship, With the outermost row of items 12 preferably seating relatively snugly against the rim 24, thereby improving the overall rigidity of the package. The tray is preferably fabricated ot' a material such as lightweight cardboard, and if desired, may be initially provided in the form of a fiat sheet with the rim as being conveniently formed by merely bending the outer edges upwardly, generally perpendicularly to the sheet.

After the items 12 are appropriately positioned within the tray 2% in alignment with the apertures 14, the overwrap 15, preferably in the form of a heat shrinkable, transparent polymeric film, is secured thereabout and arranged to relatively tightly enclose the items 12 and the tray. This provision similarly increases the rigidity of the container. The apertures 15% are then provided in the overwrap 16 by a method hereinafter described in detail.

Although the overwrap 16 may take various forms, in the illustrated embodiment the ends 25 of the overwrap 16 generally meet in a location adjacent the underside of the base and are secured to each other in this region by suitable means, such as heat sealing. The overwrap 16 is illustrated as being secured about the package such that it does not completely enclose the op posed ends 26 of the package. In this connection, the overwrap 16 extends a predetermined distance below the upper end of the endmost row of cans 12 at each of the opposed ends 26, sufficient to maintain the cans 12 in position. Similarly, the overwrap 16 extends a predetermined distance upwardly along the rim 24 at each of the ends 26 sufficient to maintain the overwrap 16 secured about the package so as to maintain the desired structural rigidity. Alternatively, the overwrap 16 may be secured about the package so as to also enclose the opposed ends 26 of the package.

A preferred material suitable for use as the overwrap 16 is polyvinyl chloride. Alternatively oriented polyethylene, biaxially oriented polyethylene or polypropylene also may be employed.

As illustrated particularly in FIGURE 3, each of the generally cylindrical cans 12 includes a peripheral rim 27 which rests on the tray to support the can 12, the flat bottom of each can preferably being concentric with its associated apertures 14 and 18 so as to facilitate marking the central portion of the bottom which is exposed by the apertures. After price marking, the container usually is stored in an upright position, i.e., resting on the tray so that the apertures 14 and 18 are concealed from view.

The package described herein is manufactured in a novel manner so that structural weaknesses are not imparted to the container by the provision of the apertures 18. Preferably the apertures 14 are formed in the tray 20 before the items 12 are placed within the tray. Then, items 12 are placed in position, and the polymeric film of the overwrap 16 is loosely wrapped about the items 12 and the tray with the ends of the overwrap preferably being heat sealed to each other. The film 16 is then subjected to heating in order to cause it to shrink tightly about the container. This heating procedure is preferably accomplished by subjecting the film 16 to hot ai blasts.

The next step in the manufacture of the container is the formation of the apertures 18 in the film 16. These apertures register with the apertures 14, as previously mentioned, but are preferably slightly larger in diameter so as to minimize the likelihood of the relatively more fragile film 16 being injured when the items 12 are being price marked. The apertures 18 are preferably formed by directing a relatively intense heat source at the respective portions of the film 16 which overlie the approximate centers of each of the apertures 14 in the tray 2%. This is advantageously accomplished by employing a localized heat source, such as a pinpoint flame directed at the desired area of the film for a necessary time interval. Th aperture 18 generally forms by melting outwardly from the center and, as a result of the melting, there is formed a peripheral bead 2%, which defines the circumference of the aperture 18.

An alternative heat source may be a soldering iron having a conically shaped tip with the diameter of the base of the conical tip being slightly less than the diameter of the aperture 18, which is to be formed. The tip is similarly applied to selected regions of the film 16, and the peripheral bead 28 is again formed as a result of the melting of the film 16.

The formation of the apertures 18 and peripheral beads 28 in the film 16 in the manner described above is highly advantageous in that it substantially avoids the phenomenon commonly known as stress concentration. This is a condition in which relatively high localized stresses occur when there is a geometrical discontinuity such as a hole or aperture in a member subjected to stress. Thus, to avoid the effects of increased stresses at the location of the apertures 18, which may tend to rupture the film 16, the peripheral bead 28 is provided. The bead 28 structurally reinforces the film 16 at these points of stress and thus substantially precludes the occurrence of adverse effects due to stress concentration.

If, on the other hand, the aperture 18 were formed by various mechanical means, such as by cutting, rather than by the previously described heating means, the head 28 would not be formed. Thus, the periphery of each of the apertures 18, which define a region of stress concentration, would remain as a potential weak point in the overwrap 16, making the shipping container less durable and sturdy than it is with the provision of the reinforcing beads 28.

It will be apparent that the novel shipping container is highly'convenient to use and is durable. Also, the improved method of manufacture thereof involves only a few simple steps while insuring that the package will be strong without adverse stress concentration around the apertures 18 in the film 16.

It will be understood that various changes and modifications in the above-described article and method of manufacture thereof will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such modifications are deemed to be within the scope of the appended claims.

Various features of the present invention are set forth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An improved package comprising a base member receiving at least one item to be transported, means defining at least one aperture in said base member aligned with said item, an overwrap secured about said base member and said item thereby defining an enclosure and retaining the base member and item in assembled relation, and means defining at least one aperture in said overwrap in communication with said aperture in said base providing accessibility to said item.

2. An improved package comprising a base member in the form of a tray having a peripheral rim and receiving a plurality of items to be transported, means defining a plurality of apertures in said tray aligned with respective items, an overwrap film secured about said tray and said items so as to define an enclosure and retain the tray and items in assembled relation, and means defining a plurality of apertures in said overwrap film in communica tion with said apertures in said tray.

3. An improved package adapted for transporting a plurality of items comprising a tray having a bottom wall and a peripheral rim and receiving and supporting said items on the bottom wall and within the rim, means defining a plurality of circular apertures in said bottom of said tray communicating with surface portions of respective items, an overwrap film secured about said tray and said items so as to define an enclosure, and means defining a plurality of circular apertures in said overwrap film communicating with said surface portions through said apertures in said tray bottom.

4. An improved package for facilitating handling of a plurality of prepackaged items to be shipped in predetermined quantities comprising a tray receiving and supporting said items and having a plurality of apertures communicating with preselected portions of respective items within the tray, an overwrap film secured about said items and said tray so as to retain the tray and items assembled, and means defining a plurality of structurally reinforced apertures in said overwrap film in communication with said portions of said items through said apertures in said tray.

5. An improved durable package for transporting and storing a plurality of prepacked items comprising a tray having a plurality of apertures communicating with selected portions of a plurality of said items in the tray and a rim maintaining the items in position relative to the apertures, a transparent overwrap film secured about said tray and said items, and means defining a plurality of apertures in said overwrap film communicating with said apertures in said tray and reinforced by peripheral beads.

6. An improved package comprising a rimmed tray adapted for receiving a plurality of items to be transported, means defining a plurality of apertures in said tray for alignment with selected portions of the respective items, a polymeric film overwrap secured about said tray and said items so as to retain the relative positions of the tray and items, said polymeric film being selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl chloride, oriented polyethylene, biaxially oriented polyethylene and polypropylone, and means defining a plurality of apertures in said polymeric film overwrap in communication with said apertures in said tray so as to provide access to said preselected portions of said items being transported.

7. An improved method of forming a package comprising the steps of snugly positioning a plurality of prepackaged items in a rimmed tray having a plurality of apertures aligned with portions of the respective items, extending a transparent film overwrap loosely about said items and said tray, heat sealing the ends of said overwrap together to define an enclosure about the items and the tray, heat shrinking said overwrap to retain said items positively in position on the tray, and applying heat to preselected portions of said overwrap to form a plurality of apertures communicating with said apertures in said tray and strengthened around their peripheries by beads.

8. An improved method of forming a package comprising the steps of snugly positioning a plurality of prepackaged items in a rimmed tray having a plurality of apertures aligned with portions of the respective items, extending a transparent film overwrap loosely about said items and said tray, heat sealing the ends of said overwrap to define an enclosure, heat shrinking said overwrap to rigidly retain said items in position on said tray and applying localized heat to portions of said overwrap aligned with the centers of said apertures in said tray so as to provide a plurality of apertures concentric with said tray apertures and having reinforcing beads around their peripheries.

9. An improved method for forming a package comprising the steps of placing at least one item on a base member having at least one aperture therein so that said aperture is in communication with a preselected surface portion of said item, securing an overwrap about said item and said base member to define an enclosure retaining the base member and item in assembled relation, and forming an aperture in said overwrap positioned to communicate with said aperture in said base member, so that said surface portion of the item is accessible.

10. An improved method for forming a package comprising the steps of placing a plurality of items on a base member having a plurality of apertures therein so that said apertures are in communication with preselected surface portions of said items, securing an overwrap about said items and said base member to define an enclosure retaining the base member and items in assembled relation, and forming a plurality of apertures in said overwrap positioned to communicate with said apertures in said base member, so that said surface portions of the items are accessible.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,111,221 1/1963 Champman et al.

THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

L. G. MANCENE, Assistant Examiner. 

